The Blue Train

What can beat that feeling of going to sleep with a Karoo moon in the sky outside, and waking up to a pot of fresh coffee, surrounded by Cape vineyards as the Blue Train makes her stately way into the Mother City?

Did you know?

The Blue Train travels at a stately speed of 90km/h (58.2mph).

The Blue Train of South Africa can easily lay claim to being one of the top three luxury trains in the world, but a lot of its allure lies in its past history.

‘Aah, the Blue Train,' South Africans will sigh at the sight of this elegant five-star experience trundling across the landscape, its passengers enthralled by the world outside and utterly spoilt by the staff inside. It stands for excellence in South Africa and we're justifiably proud of this luxury train and its image.

Back in the early 1940s, the Union Limited-Union Express line had distinctive sapphire blue carriages. Thus people started referring to the South African luxury train as ‘those blue trains'.

And now, even in its third reincarnation, the luxury Blue Train of South Africa still speaks of Irish linen, quality silver in the dining car, marble floors, plush white towels and fluffy eiderdown duvets. You can watch your favourite TV show, then let your eyes drift out of the window at the landscapes outside.